Craig Hockenberry

Craig Hockenberry grew up in Northeastern Ohio in the small town of Malvern. After graduating from high school in 1990, he was recruited to play football at the College of Mount St. Joseph. He was part of the school’s first football team and played for legendary Coach, John Pont. After graduating from Mount St. Joseph in 1995 with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, Craig immediately began teaching at Roosevelt School in the Cincinnati Public School system. During his short time at Roosevelt, he attended night school at Xavier University, receiving a graduate degree in Educational Administration. He then enrolled at the University of Cincinnati where he began work on his Ph.D. in Urban Education.

After Roosevelt School closed in 1998, he was named Assistant Principal of Oyler School in Lower Price Hill. After two years, he was promoted to Principal. During his last 10 years at Oyler, the school transformed from a K-6 school to a full-service PreK-12 Community Learning Center. The school elevated from Academic Emergency to Academic Watch to Continuous Improvement and, most importantly, was graduating students from a community that once held the highest dropout rate in the City of Cincinnati. In 2009, Craig was named the Cincinnati Public School Administrator of the Year and received the James N. Jacobs Award for Outstanding Administration. Also in 2009, he was the recipient of the 2009 Dream Makers Award from the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative (CYC) for his school's work in building partnerships. Additionally, he was named Lower Price Hill Man-of-the-Year for his work in the community of Lower Price Hill and went on to later be named The King of Price Hill.

Craig lives in West Price Hill with his wife, Erin, and their three children: Vivian, Gino, & Rocco. His personal interests include traveling, running, following college football, and, of course, spending every minute he can with his family. He was the President-elect of the Price Hill/Western Hills Kiwanis Club. He is a Leadership Cincinnati Alumnus Class #39, and a member of the Cincinnatus Association. He was a member of the Price Hill Civic Club, the East Price Hill Property Owners Association, Lower Price Hill Community Council, and served on the board of directors at Santa Maria Community Services, Price Hill Will, and the Queensgate Business Alliance. He currently is a member of the Western Hills Community Service Club, the Cleves-Three Rivers Kiwanis Club, and the Western Economic Council. In 2015, he was appointed to the advisory boards for Mount St. Joseph University and Xavier University.

On Saturday, May 11, 2013, Craig received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the College of Mount St. Joseph and delivered the 2013 commencement address.

His 15 years of work and dedication at Oyler School was nationally recognized for an entire year on Marketplace/National Public Radio (NPR) in a series titled “One School, One Year…” Craig has had the opportunities to speak across the nation about leadership, education, and community leader centers.

After 19 years working in Cincinnati Public Schools, Craig was named the Superintendent of Manchester Local Schools in Adams County. Adams County is the 2^nd poorest county in the State of Ohio and one of Ohio’s most rural school districts. After 2 years, Craig returned to Hamilton County and was named Superintendent of The Three Rivers Local School District.

Currently serving as the District’s Superintendent, Mr. Hockenberry continues to ensure student achievement. In 2016, Three Rivers Local School District received the Momentum Award under his leadership. This award recognizes schools that have received A’s on every value-added measure included on the State Report Card. Three Rivers was one of only five districts to be awarded in 2016. Mr. Hockenberry also led the administrative team to identify the District’s Core Values: Cultivate Excellence, Nurture Inclusion, and Inspire Innovation. The District continues to push the pace with innovation and best practices for student achievement under his leadership.

DEVELOPED CORE VALUES

CULTIVATE EXCELLENCE

We believe in the relentless pursuit of our very best in everything we set our hands, hearts and minds toward.

We commit to challenging one another to be better as we strive to give our staff, students, and families the highest quality educational experience possible.

INSPIRE INNOVATION

We believe in the creative spark that lives in all of our staff and students.

We will constantly create ways in which that creativity can be used to solve problems for our school, community and our world. It is our job to construct experiences and environments where this creativity can be unearthed and fostered to make the world a better place.

NURTURE INCLUSION

We believe that every life we touch possesses incredible value and worth.

It is our job to enthusiastically cultivate the diversity of strengths, talents and gifts that every individual in our care possesses no matter what their background, gender, race or belief system. Everyone is welcome and embraced.

RESUME

Craig D. HOCKENBERRY, DHL (hon.)

4019 Palos Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45205

Cell: (513) 335-9913 E-mail: CraigHockenberry52@gmail.com

Digital portfolio: https://sites.google.com/view/craig-hockenberry

Revised 3-16-2020

PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

Three Rivers Local School District Consultant 2020-

Three Rivers Local School District Superintendent 2015-2020

Located in Hamilton County, Ohio 15 miles west of downtown Cincinnati.
Includes the Village of Cleves, Addyston, North Bend, and Miami Township
Total number of students 2,490

Manchester Local Schools -Adams County Superintendent, 2013-2015

Located in Adams County on the Ohio River 77 miles east of Cincinnati.
Adams County is the 2^nd poorest county in the state of Ohio.
Total number of student 1,000 students

Cincinnati Public Schools/OYLER SCHOOL Asst. Principal 1998-2000

Cincinnati Public Schools/OYLER SCHOOL Principal, 2000-2013

Oyler is located in Lower Price Hill and is part of Cincinnati Public Schools.
Oyler is a K-12 Community Learning Center with 850 students
During my time there, Oyler emerged as a turnaround school rising from ACADEMIC EMERGENCY to CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.

Roosevelt Elementary 1995-98 Teacher GR. 4-5-6 Reading/Social Studies

PROFFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Curriculum and Instruction

Created Career Academies for Taylor High School for 2019-2020.
Led the district through the changing of start times to create common planning
Developed Boardwalks for all members of the Three Rivers Board of Education.
Brought the Rutherford Learning Group to 3Rivers to develop our principals.
Hosted and planned 3Rivers job fairs for teachers and other staff.
Led a major partnership with University of Cincinnati IT and TRLSD (2018).
Hosted the High Aims Summer Institute at Three Rivers Local School (2017).
Three Rivers Local Schools was awarded the 2016 Momentum Award from ODE.
Created a nationally-recognized Community Learning Center at Oyler in CPS.

Staffing, Personnel, Finance, & Leadership

Led Three Rivers through our first Strategic Plan.
Engaged and developed a yearlong BOE development with the TRLSD 2019.

Created the Faith Advisory, Real Estate Agent Forum, Parent Advisory, Student Advisory and Business Advisory for 3Rivers
Developed CORE Values Cultivate Excellence, Inspire Innovation, Nurture Inclusion.
Developed the 3R Academy; a yearlong staff PD that focused on relationships.
Implemented HUMANeX/Ventures, a research-based teacher selection system.
Leadership Cincinnati Class #39 (2015-16)
Opened the region’s 1^st rural SBHC in southern Ohio (2014).
Oversaw a 4.8-million-dollar construction projection at MLSD (2014).
Developing a rural model for Community Learning Centers.
Opened first vision center inside a public school in the United States at Oyler.
Led community through $21 million renovations of Oyler.
Opened the Robert & Adele Schiff Early Learning Center.

Local Presentations

Guest Lecture University of Cincinnati “Understanding the Money School Finance” October 2020
Guest Lecture Xavier University “Managing the politics of the Board” November 2020
Guest Lecture Mount St. Joseph University “Surviving your first year” November 2020
Guest Speaker at Curiosity Advertisement “Make Good Gooder” May 2019
Guest Speaker at University of Cincinnati Education Department January 2019
Invited to City Hall to represent educators for gun violence in school March 2018.
Keynote Speaker at the Region V Title I conference in Mason (March 2017).
Presented at OSBA with law firm Ennis Britton (November 2017).
Guest Speaker for Crayons to Computers fundraiser (2016).
Keynote Speaker Cincinnati Christian University Teachers of Excellence (2015).
Testified at House Education Committee Community Learning Centers (2014)
Commencement speaker at the College of Mount St. Joseph (May 2013).
Presented the Community Learning Center concept to New York City.
Guest speaker, School-Based Health Centers in New Mexico (2012).
Presenter, St. Dominick School in Delhi Township, “The Urban Child” (2008).
Featured guest speaker, EW Scripps Board of Directors (2007).
Guest speaker, Xavier University “Urban Education” (October 2005).

Awards and Honors

Awarded Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from College of Mount St. Joseph
Delivered the Commencement address at the College of Mount St. Joseph
Awarded the WH Harrison Award by the Boys Scouts & LaRosa’s Family (2017)
Three Rivers Local Schools Awarded the Momentum Award from ODE (2016)
Financial audit award from Ohio State Auditor David Yost (2014-2017).
Named the King of Price Hill (2012).
Won the Cincinnati Business Courier Health Care Health Hero Award (2013).
Named the 100 Minds through Leadership within the Greater Cincinnati region.
Cincinnati Public School Principal of the year (2010).
Awarded the CYC Dream Maker Award (2008).
$350,000 from the Health Foundation to create a school-based health center.
Awarded $5000.00 from the Laura Bush Foundation.
Authored $25,000 Grant 12 consecutive years from Christ Church Cathedral.
Accepted award from Governor Robert Taft for reading improvement $25,000.

Partnerships, Community and Leadership

Supported a yearlong initiative to create a massive Taylor Alumni database.
Selected to participate in the strategic planning for Public Library 2019
Finalizing an 11 million Health/Wellness Center with Miami Township &YMCA.
Established $1,000,000 partnership with The Courter Trade Scholarship
Hosted State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Paolo Demaria 2019
Hosted 700 WLW, Bill Cunningham and NFLstar, Kyle Rudolph at 3Rivers 2018
Coordinated the Disabled American Veterans Wheelchair games at 3Rivers 2017
Hosted State Board President, Debe Terhar to MLSD to discuss rural education.
Hosted former P & G CEO, John Pepper, to a visit to Oyler (2010).
Hosted State Superintendent Deb Delsile (2009).
Hosted a visit of Dr. O’Dell Owens, Hamilton County Coroner (2008).
Spent 3 weeks in Gifu City, Japan with an educational delegation from Cincinnati.
Hosted John P. Walters, White House Drug Czar (2005).
Hosted the Ohio State Superintendent Susan Tave-Zelman to Oyler (2004).
Hosted Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States of America (2003).

Affiliations

Appointed to the Mount St. Joseph Alumni Board of Directors November 2020
Advisory Board education department University of Cincinnati October 2020
President of the Valley Association of Superintendent 2018
Treasurer of Valley Association Superintendent 2016
Leadership Cincinnati Class #39 (2015-16)
Cleves-Three Rivers Kiwanis Club (2015-2020)
Board of Directors Xavier University College of Professional Sciences (2016)
Advisory Board Mount St. Joseph University (2015-present)
Member Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA)

National Screenings & Media

Cincinnati, Ohio (May 2015)
Chicago, Illinois (September 2015)
Baltimore, Maryland (October 2015)
New York City, New York (2015)
Colorado Springs, Colorado (November 2015)
Los Angles, California (October 2015)
Chagrin Falls, Ohio (October 2015)
DOCUTAH St. George, Utah (September 2016)
Austin, Texas (March 2016)
Sebastopol, California (March 2016)
Columbus, Ohio (April 2016)
Princeton University New Jersey (2016)
Albuquerque, New Mexico (April 2016)
Miami University Oxford, Ohio (October 2016)
Fargo, North Dakota (October 2016)
Xavier University Cincinnati, Ohio (October 2016)
Raymond Walters College Cincinnati, Ohio (March 2017)
Mason, Ohio (March 2017)
Beckley, WVA (March 2017)
University of Cincinnati (January 2019)

The New York Times

CLICK HERE

The Washington Post

CLICK HERE

National Public Radio (Marketplace)

CLICK HERE

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Honorary Degree Awarded

Doctor of Humane Letters

Mount St. Joseph University Cincinnati, OH

Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH

Masters of Educational Administration (1998)

College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati, OH

Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (1994)

Specialized Training

The Alpaugh Scholars Leadership Program of the UC Economics Center (2018)
Leadership Cincinnati Class #39 (2015-16)
The University of Virginia, Turnaround Specialist Program
Harvard University, the Harvard Principals Center

Servant Leadership

Weekly volunteer at Saint Francis Seraph Soup Kitchen OTR (2020)

14 E Liberty St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (Over the Rhine)

Weekly volunteer at Seton High School COVID support and safety

3901 Glenway Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45205 (Price Hill)

Weekly volunteer at Crayons to Computers

1350 Tennessee Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229 (Bond Hill)

Weekly volunteer at Matthew 25: Ministries

11060 Kenwood Rd (Blue Ash)

Weekly volunteer at Freestore Foodbank food distribution

112 E Liberty Street (OTR)

Craig Hockenberry Named New Superintendent for the Poland Local Schools

Mr. Craig Hockenberry has been selected as the new Superintendent of the Poland Local Schools. The Board of Education has called a Special Meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, May 10th, to officially hire Mr. Hockenberry.

Mr. Hockenberry was born and raised in Northeast Ohio and has several connections to the Poland area. He brings more than two decades of educational experience to the Poland Local Schools. He has served in different leadership roles from teacher, assistant principal, principal and superintendent through various settings-rural, suburban and urban school districts throughout Ohio.

Mr. Gregg Riddle, President of the Board of Education stated, “Mr. Hockenberry is inheriting a school district of excellence. His leadership and experience will help advance the Poland Local Schools to continued academic success.”

Mr. Hockenberry served as the Superintendent of Three Rivers Local School District in Hamilton County, Ohio, a district with close to 2,500 students. He was the superintendent at Three Rivers for six years. Before that he was the Superintendent of Manchester Local Schools in Adams County, Ohio, a district with 1,000 students from 2013-2015. He began his administrative career in Cincinnati Public Schools as an assistant principal and principal of an elementary, middle and high school. During his tenure at the Oyler School, he was instrumental in an academic turnaround for the school, emerging from academic emergency to continuous improvement.

Mr. Hockenberry has experience in creating career academies, opening and developing models for community learning centers, expanding community partnerships, district strategic planning, overseeing multi-million dollar construction projects and bringing essential services to students.

Throughout his tenure at Cincinnati Public Schools, Mr. Hockenberry has been named Administrator and Principal of the year. He was also part of a National Public Radio award-winning documentary, Oyler One School, One Year.

Mr. Hockenberry graduated from Mount St. Joseph in 1995 with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. He received his graduate degree in Educational Administration from Xavier University. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the College of Mount St. Joseph and delivered the 2013 commencement address. Before starting his career in administration he was an elementary school teacher. Craig and his wife Erin have three children: Rocco, Gino and Vivian.

Community engagement, transparency and due diligence were three of the main components guiding the Poland Board of Education in naming a new superintendent. Finding a leader with superintendent experience who will honor the district’s traditions, while preparing students for the future were key attributes the board sought in its search for a new superintendent. The Poland Local School District is at a critical juncture with building realignment, Covid-19 mandates and future planning.

THE SEARCH PROCESS

· Working with Finding Leaders, the Board of Education started a National Search in March of 2021 to find a new superintendent.

· Finding Leaders engaged the community and district staff through community forums to find out what Poland wanted to see in its next superintendent-this feedback helped Finding Leaders develop its district profile.

· A field of twenty four candidates applied for the job and Finding Leaders narrowed the pool of candidates.

· Seven candidates were interviewed by the Board of Education.

· From the seven candidates the Board of Education narrowed the selection to two finalists-Craig Hockenberry and Jude Meyers.

PROCESS FOR FINALIST

Maintaining transparency with the community in the search for a new superintendent has been paramount for the Board of Education. A stakeholders group was formed to ensure the Poland community was represented in the search and their input was greatly valued. The stakeholders group was made up of the following: teachers, support staff members, community members, students and district administration. The stakeholders group interviewed the two finalists for superintendent and provided their feedback. The Board of Education also conducted a third interview with the two finalists.

DUE DILIGENCE

The Board of Education conducted its own due diligence in finding the district’s new superintendent. Board members contacted both previous and current employers, specifically inquiring about leadership. Educational Service Center Superintendents were also contacted.

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